IMPROVED TOWN BEATEN BY OLD BOYS

Whitstable Town provided a much improved performance in the needle match at home to Ramsgate on Tuesday evening but unfortunately were still on the end of a 4-2 defeat.

The first half was very even with Ramsgate creating the first chance on seven minutes when Peter Smith hit a long range shot over the bar. Two minutes later Whitstable had their first effort as Ollie Gray shot from the right of the penalty area straight at Ramsgate keeper Luke Watkins. Scott Heard had the next attempt as the ball found him but he also blasted over the bar. Controversy in the 29th minute when Ollie Gray was adjudged to

Scott Heard slots the ball past Luke Watkins

have brought down Luke Girt in the penalty area. Up stepped Ian Pulman to slam the ball into the middle of the net to give the Rams the lead. Whitstable did not lay down and die and Sam Bewick headed the ball wide. On 38 minutes Whitstable got a deserved equaliser as Ira Jackson fed the ball through to Heard who poked the ball past Watkins and into the net. On the stroke of half time Heard hit a shot from long range over the bar and then deep into injury time at the other end Jake MacKenzie shot wide.

Ramsgate started the second half with new vigour and Ian Pulman had two opportunities in the first five minutes as firstly he had a shot deflected wide, spooned another over the bar and then Joe Taylor had a shot blocked by Town keeper Adam Highsted. The early pressure paid off as on 50 minutes Pulman found Mackenzie and the ex-Whitstable full back’s shot beat Highsted to give Ramsgate the lead. Town did counter and on 53 minutes, Jackson sent a dipping shot over the cross bar and then a Heard cross was just deflected wide as Charlie Smith challenged. Warren Schultz had the next chance for the Rams as he his shot looped over. Ramsgate increased their lead on 65 minutes when Tom Loynes fed Smith who side footed home. However Town did not give up and on 72 minutes Heard got his second as he blasted the ball home through a crowd of players. On 79 minutes Luke Doherty turned and shot bring out a great save from Watkins who pushed the ball around the post. Ramsgate finally sealed the game

Calum McGeehan denied

eight minutes from time when Aaron Quain blasted the ball into the corner of the net from outside the penalty area. Pulman had one more attempt for the visitors as he had a shot saved by Highsted.

Despite the result there were encouraging signs for Town, and they must take the positives into the next game at home in the Trophy against Worthing.